Overwinding preventer for spring motors



July 9, 1929. o. E. ODOM OVERWINDING PREVENTER FOR SIRING IOTORS Filed Dec. 20. 1924 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES DANIEL E. ODOM, F BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

OVERWINDING PREVENTER FOR SPRING MOTORS.

Application filed December 20, 1924.- Serial No. 757,135.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of thisgeneral character comprising a drum and an operating spring associated therewith together with means for normally maintaining the same in operative connection, said means including a member connected with the spring and provided with an outstanding portion for engagement with a member to assure requisite rotation of the driven member to wind the spring until the tension of the spring has reached a predetermined degree whereupon said outstanding portion becomes inoperative.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character wherein a member is operated by a spring and wherein the spring has connected therewith a second member adapted to engage the first member to effect a working engagement between the spring and first member, said engagement becoming inoperative upon a predetermined degree of tension of the spring.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved spring motor whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a sectional view taken through a motor constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention showing the spring fully wound;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the locking member in positive engagement with the driven member or drum;

Figure 3 is a fragmenary View in perspective illustrating the end portion; of the looking member connected to the spring;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the adjacent ends of the spring and lockin member illustrating another embodiment the spring;

for connecting the locking member to Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a further form of connection;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View similar to Figure 4.- illustrating a still further form of connection;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a still further form of connection.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing an embodiment of the locking member as illustrated in Figure 3 in positive engagement with the driven member or drum.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, D denotes a drum or driven member of requisite dimensions and which is mounted on the shaft S, said drum D or shaft S having relative rotation under the instrumentality of the spring A. The spring A is of a conventional spiral type and has its inner end portion suitably fixed, as at 1, to the shaft S.

The outer end portion of the spring A" is connected to the inner end portion of a locking member M". The locking member M" comprises an arcuate resilient band of spring steel or the like normally of a length in excess of a semi-circle, said member extending around the applied spring A" and having close contact with the inner face of the peripheral wall of the drum D. The inner end portion of the member M is provided with an outstanding reverted flange 3', the outer wall of which being continued by an inwardly directed plate 8 underlying the adjacent or inner end portion of the member M and with which is adapted to be engaged the outstanding flange or plate 9 carried by the outer end of the spring A".

The free end of the plate 8 at substantially its transverse center is provided with an open slot 10 and, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 6, this slot 10 is adapted to receive a button 11. This button 11 is also adapted to be inserted within the pear shaped slot 12 formed in the outer end of the spring A whereby a still further embodiment of connection may be obtained.

The embodiments of my invention as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 provide means whereby the locking member M may be readily connected to either of the two forms of spring ends which in themselvesare conventional and extensively used, particularly in phonographs and kindred apparatus.

When the spring A is unwound or opened, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 2, the

member M isin close contact at Substantially all points between its ends with the pccured to the shaft S so thatupo-n relative rotationof the shaft S and drum D one with respect to the other, the spring A will be wound upon the shaft S. Continued rotation of the shaft S or drum D after the spring A, has been substantially completely wound or wound to a predetermined degree will cause the tension of the spring A to overco-methe resistance of the member M and withdraw the outstanding portion or flange 3' out of thegroove or channel 41 in which it was previously engaged so that upon contin- I ued rotation of the shafts S or drum D further strain on or winding of spring A beyond a predetermined degree is avoided. At the same time, the outstanding portion or flange 3 will be drawn around the inner perip heral wall of the drum D or more particularly the sleeve 19 resulting in the creation of an audible sound to, give notice that the spring has been fully wound or has been wound to the desired predetermined degree. When winding of the spring A ceases, the member M of its own inherent resilient resistance will cause the outstanding portion or flange 3to reengage within a groove or channel 4.

In; Figure 4-,.1 illustrate. a further means whereby the locking member M may be con- 121 3 1 to the spring A. In this embodiment of my invention, the outer or free extremity of the spring A isprovided with an opening 5 which provides an outer cross bar 6 with which may be readily engaged an inwardly facing hook member 7 carried by the inner end portion of the member M. As herein disclosed, the hook member 7' constitutes a tongue or lipv struck out from the member M.

As illustrated in Figure 7 the member M is constructed substantially the same as the member M hercinbefore referred to while the outer end of the spring A is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 5 although the flange or plate 9 need not be of any'considerable length. The spring A is adapted to be. connected to the member M through the medium. of the coupling member C, said member being provided at one end with the inwardly facing hook member 14 adapted to be engaged through an opening 15. provided in the member M at a predetermined point outwardly of the outstanding portion or flange 3- at the inner end thereof. The opposite end of the member 0 is provided with the inwardly inclined flange or plate 16 which is adapted to be engaged with the flange or plate 9- The hook member 14 and the plate or member 16 are oppositely disposed to effect the requisite coupling of the member M and the spring A and the end portion-of the member C carrying the plate or flange 16 is outwardly offset, as at 17, so that when the member C is applied such portion will extend within the space generally defined by the flange or outstanding portion 8" so that. in practice the use of the member C' will not entail any undue restriction to the requisite opening movement of the spring A In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 3 and 8 the locking member M has its inner end provided with an outstanding portion 3 in the form of a flange disposed inwardly of the member M at an angle of substantially seventy degrees although it is to be understood thatthe angle of this outstanding portion or flange 3 is to be determined by the necessities of practice.

The outer end portion of the spring A is connected as at 2 by a button'or otherwise to the inner end portion of the locking member M. 7

As herein disclosed, the drum- D comprises an outer shell or casing 18 in which is snugly engaged a sleeve 19 which is provided with the grooves or channels 1 hereinbefore re ferred to. The'slee-ve 19 is fixed to the shell or casing 18 in any manner preferred as generally indicated at 29 in Figure 1. VVh'ile in practice I find it of advantage to provide the grooves or channels 4 by proper corrugating the sleeve 19, yet it is to be understood that. such grooves or channels may be formed in any manner preferred. It is also to be understood that the grooves or channels may be formed directly in the peripheral wall 3 of the shell or casingbut as such construction as this is believed to be self-evident it is not thought that a detailed illustration and description thereof is necessary.

From the foregoing description it is ill) thought to be obvious that a spring motor constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will: also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of'some change and modification without departing from the principles. and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, a spiral spring having one end portion secured to one of said members, an arcuate resilient member pressing against the second member, means for connecting the opposite end portion of the Spring to said resilient member, the second member being provided with a wall having a series of spaced grooves, the arcuate member being provided with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves, the out standing portion with respect to the spring being inwardly of the point of connection between the arcuate member and the spring.

2. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, a spiral spring having one end portion secured to one of said members, a resilient member pressing against the second member, means for connecting the opposite end portion of the spring to the resilient member, the second member being provided with a wall having a series of spaced grooves, the resilient member being provided at an end with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves.

3. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, a spiral spring having one end portion secured to one of said members, a resilient member pressing against the second member, means for connecting the opposite end portion of the spring to the re silient member, the second member being provided with a wall having a series of spaced grooves, the inner end of the resilient member being provided with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves.

4. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, a spiral spring having one end portion secured to one of said members, a resilient member contacting with the second member, said second member being provided with a wall having a series of spaced grooves, the inner end portion of the resilient member being provided with an inwardly disposed part, the outer end of the spring being provided with means to permit said partto interlock therewith, said resilient member being provided with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves.

5. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, a spiral spring having one end portion secured to one of said members, a resilient member pressing against the second member, means for operatively engaging the opposite end portion of the spring to the resilient member, the second member being provided with a wall having a series of spaced grooves, the resilient member being provided at an end portion with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves.

6. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, a spiral spring having one end portion secured to one of said members, an arcuate resilient member pressin g against the second member, means for connecting the opposite end portion of the spring to said resilient member, the second member being provided with a wall having a series of spaced grooves, the arcuate member being provided at an extremity with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves, the resistance of the arcuate member operating to normally maintain the outstanding portion of the arcuate member actively seated within a groove, a predetermined tension of the spring unseating the outstanding portion during the period of relative rotation of the first named member with the tension of the spring at such predetermined degree.

7 In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, a spiral spring having one end portion secured to one of said members, an arcuate resilient member pressing against the second member, means for connecting the opposite end portion of the spring to said resilient member, the second member being provided with a wall having a series of spaced grooves, the arcuate member being provided at its inner extremity with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves, the resistance of the arcuate member operating to hold the outstanding portion thereof seated within a groove until the tension of the spring reaches a predetermined degree.

8. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, one of said members constituting a casing, a sleeve fitted within said casing provided with a series of spaced grooves, and means for connecting the sleeve to the casing; a spiral spring having one end portion secured to the second memher, an arcuate resilient member arranged within the casing and pressing against the applied sleeve, means for connecting the opposite end portion of the spring to said resilient member, the arcuate member being provided adjacent to its connection with the spiral spring with an outstanding portion to seat within one of said grooves.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

DANIEL E. ODOM. 

